…has a been a lesson in cultivating gratitude. It certainly hasn’t been the most glamorous of christmas holidays, with less presents under the tree and really no room for flash. Every drop of the dollar seemed to be wrapped in tension, tempers flaring as a result. The muddied pavements must’ve globbled up santa’s boots because the christmas spirit came a bit slow this year.

However, it is fitting that I’ve woken up a warm sun. It’s a reset, the same way realizing my favorite memory this year(the uncontrollable laughter that ensued as my dad posed in a sweater that was MUCH too small for him) was a reset. It wasn’t money in an envelope or a merino sweater. It was a belly bursting laugh shared with loved ones. 

I understand more than ever the importance of cultivating gratitude. The ability to find appreciation in the darkest of times is not just a skill. It’s a power…the power to replenish your vitality when your soul seems broken. It’s a ability to allow flowers to grow in the concrete. 

So thank you for the hard times, Christmas 2010. I’ve leveled up in a way I didn’t think possible.